Launched in 2008, in partnership with two leading universities in Northern Ireland (Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University) the programme aims to nurture fresh talent in the UK IT sector. Scholars work alongside Civica professionals during paid summer and year-out placements.

To date, 46 IT and Engineering students across the UK have joined the programme, each securing a scholarship package worth up to £25,000. This year, four more scholars from Queen’s University Belfast joined the prestigious programme – John Willcox-Beney, Jamie Caldwell, Liam Fletcher and Edward Muldrew. Civica welcomed all the scholars to an awards ceremony at its Belfast office, along with family members and university representatives

Speaking at the ceremony, Venita Girvan, Careers & Placement Advisor at Queen’s University Belfast said: “The Civica Scholarship Programme offers our students the vital workplace experience which will really set them apart from their peers. It allows them to develop essential soft skills alongside technical training, allowing them to put the theory they are learning at university into practice. We are delighted that Civica, alongside Queen’s University Belfast, is committed to helping these students and graduates of the future.”

With financial assistance secured, Civica’s four new scholars will continue with their first year studies at Queen’s University Belfast, returning to Civica in summer 2017 to start their first industrial placement.

This year, the programme has attracted scholars from the UK mainland as well as Northern Ireland. New scholar John Willcox-Beney, from Brighton in south-east England, commented: “Civica works on some really impressive projects and I’m looking forward to working alongside people who are experienced in their field, as well as learning new systems which will be invaluable in the future.”

Our scholars have already shown their outstanding talent, and we’re confident the programme can help them further stand out from their university peers - Angela Canavan, Managing Director of Civica Ireland

Managing Director of Civica Ireland, Angela Canavan, added: “At Civica, we encourage our people to develop their full potential in an open and supportive environment. Our scholars have already shown their outstanding talent, and we’re confident the programme can help them further stand out from their university peers – giving them the necessary skills, training and vital experience needed for a successful future career in the technology sector.”

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